Does saving the lives of animals count as much as saving the lives of people?

Question

In Judaism it is said that to save one life is to save the world. What about saving animals' lives? Does that count?

Answer 1

The animals think it counts just as much.

Answer 2

I think people are much more important than saving an animals. Is saving a person with a soul important? Do animals have souls, I don't think so. I don't know any sane people that would rather lose a person, rather lose a pet

Answer 3

The moment you expect merit from your good deed, you immediately lose the true meaning of doing good.

To do good is part of our spiritual nature, without thinking about what return we will get, whether what we do counts, etc. Just do it.

If you're required to save the animals, do it even if the merit is none. But don't force yourself to save if you never have the desire to save. Or else you will really miss the point of why you save. Because to please God? To gain good merit? Or to be our real self - a self that's divine and good, without asking anything in return - a selfless self.

Answer 4

Saving an animal, to me, would be doing more than saving a pathetic human could ever do.

Animals don't usually thank you, which is the best reward there is.

Answer 5

Animals are God's creatures too. I think saving the lives of animals pleases God.

Answer 6

No. But you should respect animals lives. " The righteous one is caring for the soul of his domestic animal." (Proverbs 12:10)

Answer 7

Save the whales, otters, seals, deer, lions...etc.etc.etc...save the rain forest, save the ocean, save the people, save the planet, but most of all God save the children.